Cruise News

The Thomson name may disappear from Britain’s travel agencies to be replaced by the name (and smile logo) of German parent company TUI – and the change is going to have a significant effect on Thomson Cruises. Two ships which carry almost 2,000 passengers each are likely to be transferred to the UK fleet where they will join the similar-sized Thomson Discovery. They will probably replace older, smaller ships such as the Thomson Spirit and Thomson Celebration. Mein Schiff 1, built in 1996 as Galaxy, and Mein Schiff 2, the 1997-built former Mercury, were both originally with Celebrity Cruises. Discovery [...]

The Masters of Cunard’s three ships gathered together by the funnel of flagship Queen Mary 2 this morning ahead of the spectacular sailaway to mark the start of the celebrations for Cunard’s 175th anniversary year. The Three Queens - Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 – returned from their World Cruises today, arriving in Southampton in the early morning. After a rare opportunity for the three Captains to meet up together on the same vessel, the masters will take command of their respective ships and for the first time the fleet will sail together in daylight from Cunard’s [...]

Southampton’s Mayflower Cruise Terminal has been reopened following a £6 million pound refurbishment that will enable it to cater for some of the largest cruise vessels afloat, long into the future. The terminal, one of four in the port, now features a remodelled open plan interior, with expanded security, check-in and passenger reception areas. The increased number of cruise ships visiting Southampton, and the fact that most new ships are larger and carry more passengers, means P&O Cruises, Cunard and other brands of the Carnival Group,are expecting passenger volumes through Southampton to increase by 25 per cent over the next two [...]

Almost 500 Australians and New Zealanders took part in a memorial service on the decks of Cunard Lines’ Queen Elizabeth this morning as the ship sailed the waters off the Gallipoli Peninsula. They were joined by hundreds of other passengers marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the eight-month First World War campaign that cost more than 140,000 lives. Crew and guests laid wreaths in the water in remembrance of the soldiers who died. A six-foot high poppy wall floral tribute, shaped as ‘100’ to mark the Anzac centenary, formed the centrepiece for the ceremony. The wall was filled [...]

Continuing political unrest has led MSC Cruises to cancel cruise ship calls to Egypt and Ukraine which had been scheduled for later this year and spring 2016. Alternative ports of call have been arranged in the Mediterranean. The company says the move is “in response to market demand”; translated that probably means there is currently a distinct LACK of demand for cruises to the affected regions. The affected cruises are: MSC Opera: 12-night Eastern Mediterranean sailings – Rhodes, Greece and Heraklion, Crete replace Alexandria, Egypt. Three departures affected [28 September, 10 October and 22 October, 2015]. MSC Sinfonia: 12-night Eastern [...]

A British cruise ship was forced to make an unscheduled return to port last night after a fire on board. P&O Cruises’ Oriana was en route to a day in Key West, Florida, but turned round and returned to Miami, which it had left only a few hours earlier. A P&O spokeswoman said the fire was minor and “localised” and that the safety of passengers and crew had not been affected. She said that in order to allow for a mandatary US Coastguard inspection, the ship would remain in Miami until 8.00 am local time (1.00 pm BST) and the [...]